Beach locker

Abstract

The invention is a device used by beach goers which by means of an auger at the end of a relatively long shaft the beach goer is able to engage the auger deep into the sand to firmly anchor a locker container in the sand. The auger drive mechanism is such that when a drive member is pulled up through the container top and engaged with a padlock to secure the container shut, the drive member disengages from the main shaft so that it is impossible to rotate the shaft by rotating the container because it free-wheels. Thus only by unlocking the padlock and releasing the drive member/lid retainer can the shaft be rotated to disengage it from the sand.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A completely self-contained and portable beach locker defining a lockable compartment capable of locked engagement in beach sand to secure valuables without requiring external mountings or equipment, comprising: (a) a shaft having an upper and a lower end, and having an auger on said lower end for spiralling into or out of the sand;   (b) means for rotating the upper end of said shaft to permit a user to apply torque to said shaft;   (c) a lockable container mounted on said upper end of said shaft;   (d) a selective disenabler for said means for rotating such that said means for rotating is rendered ineffective when said disenabler is operative, such that in operation, said shaft can be rotated to engage said auger deep into said sand prior to engaging said disenabler and said disenabler can then be engaged to prevent counter-rotation and removal of said shaft, and said disenabler being substantially enclosed within said containers such that when said disenabler is operative and said container locked, said disenabler cannot be disengaged until said container is unlocked.   
     
     
       2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said means for rotating includes a torquing member mounted to the upper portion of said shaft and said selective disenabler comprises means for alternatively locking and unlocking said shaft and torquing member together mutually non-rotationally to permit rotation of said auger by rotation of said torquing member, and disengaging said shaft and torquing member to permit free-wheeling therebetween. 
     
     
       3. Structure according to claim 2 wherein said means for alternatively locking and unlocking said shaft comprises an elongated slotted drive member having an axis and being non-rotational with respect to said torquing member about said axis, and a cooperating pin through said shaft, such that raising said drive member frees the slot therein from said pin and lowering said drive member non-rotationally engages said pin in said slot. 
     
     
       4. Structure according to claim 3 wherein said torquing member and lockable container are unitary. 
     
     
       5. Structure according to claim 4 wherein said container has a lid, said drive member is axially slidable in said container and passes up through said lid and has an eyelet engagable by a padlock to retain said drive member up clear of said pin such that said locker container free-wheels on said shaft. 
     
     
       6. Structure according to claim 4 and including at least one manual turning knob disposed within said container for rotating same around said shaft. 
     
     
       7. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said selective disenabler comprises an axially adjustable drive member co-axial with said shaft and having a slotted void in the bottom fitting over the upper end of said shaft, said shaft has a pin selectably disengageable by the slot of said slotted void, and said shaft includes means axially anchoring same in said locker container. 
     
     
       8. Structure according to claim 7 wherein said means axially anchoring said shaft includes a sleeve around said shaft captured by a retainer toward the bottom of said shaft and a shoulder in said container which seats the top of said sleeve, such that said sleeve is rotationally independent of said shaft to prevent rotating said shaft by gripping it immediately below said container.